Labour close to deal on alcohol pricing

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The minority SNP government at Holyrood appears to be inching towards opening cross-party talks with Labour, their main opponents, on measures to tackle Scotland’s drink problem.

In a move which will be seen as extraordinary given the deep antipathy which exists between the two parties, The Times has established that there is now a willingness on both sides to negotiate on minimum pricing, the most controversial part of the SNP government’s proposed legislation.

While SNP ministers are determined to hold on to minimum pricing per unit of alcohol as a key “principle” of any legislation, it is believed that Labour’s